Infra-red deep fat fryer

Abstract

A deep fat fryer is described which is heated by burner tubes extending through the central portion thereof and by burners therein which are metal mesh. The burners support combustion only on the surface so that the primary heat source is infra-red energy to the burner tubes. Exhaust gases from the burner tubes are circulated around sides and upper portion of the fryer only so that the central and upper portions of the tank are heated and the lower portion serves as a sump.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A deep fat fryer comprising: an inner shell having a front, sides and back and defining a tank having an upper cooking portion, a central heating portion and a lower sump portion, a pair of mutually spaced tubes extending through the central portion thereof and opening through the front and back of said shell, the sides of said sump portion tapering to an outlet port in the front of said shell;   an outer shell surrounding and spaced away from corresponding portions of said inner shell, a jacket surrounding the sides and back of the central portion of said inner shell and disposed between the sides and back of said inner and outer shells, the back of said jacket forming a stack to receive exhaust gases;   a pair of cylindrical infra-red surface burners, each mounted in one of said tubes and having an external surface spaced away from the internal surface of said tube, each burner comprising a porous, sintered metal mesh cylinder means coupled to the front of each burner for admitting a pressurized fuel air mixture into the interior of said cylinders and means for igniting said mixture at the external surface of said cylinders, whereby the heat of combustion radiates from said mesh cylinders heating said tubes and exhaust gases are expelled from the back of said tubes,   circulating baffle means disposed between said inner shell and jacket for circulating hot exhaust gases expelled from said tubes around the sides of the central portion of said tank from the rear to the front and around the sides of the upper portion from the front to the rear and then returned to said stack for heating said portions of said tank therewith, the front portion of said inner shell being spaced away from the front portion of said outer shell and door means in the front portion of said outer shell to define a compartment therebetween for access to said burners and sump outlet port.   
     
     
       2. The fryer of claim 1 wherein said igniting means is an electrical non sparking igniter. 
     
     
       3. The fryer of claim 2 wherein the burner cylinders are a metal alloy mesh resistant to surface oxidation deterioration. 
     
     
       4. The fryer of claim 3 wherein the mesh alloy contains iron, aluminum, chromium and yttrium. 
     
     
       5. The fryer of claim 1 wherein the upper cooking portion of the inner shell defines an upwardly opening cooking area and a drain board portion connected to the front portion of said outer shell. 
     
     
       6. The fryer of claim 5 wherein the central and upper portions of said inner shell only are heated directly by said burners and circulating exhaust gases and the lower sump portion communicates with the middle and upper portions of said tank through an opening between said tubes. 
     
     
       7. The fryer of claim 3 wherein the metal mesh is non woven.